Can You Get Over an Addiction?

Addiction is complicated, and how it affects each person is very different. There isn't a single quick fix for addiction, but many treatment options can help people deal with their addiction and start on the road to recovery.

No magic pill or one type of therapy can eliminate someone's addictive tendencies. Like mental disorders, addiction lasts for a person's whole life. Even if someone learns ways to deal with their condition and goes drug-free for a while, the risk of relapse is always there. This shows how important it is for people who have struggled with substance abuse to avoid trying drugs other than the one they got help for.

This article talks about how therapy can help you stop using drugs and live life to its fullest without them.

Addiction: Cured vs. Treated

Make sure you use the right word when you ask if addiction can be cured. A person can either be "cured" of a disease or "treated" for it. People sometimes interchange the words cure and treatment, but they don't mean the same thing.

To cure means to get rid of an illness or condition with medical therapy. A cure is a change that will last. To treat means to "give medical care or attention" or to "try to heal or cure."

Addiction is a disease that lasts a person's whole life. Even though it is possible to treat addiction and live a normal life afterwards, there is no cure. The effects of treatment are not permanent. When the signs of addiction aren't as bad, you are in recovery. When you use or relapse, you have a lot of symptoms. When there are no symptoms, there's no third choice. Even if you stay in healing for the rest of your existence, you will always have a chance of slipping back into old habits.

Some people in recovery say they are "cured" after sobriety. But if they mean their addiction, they utilise it incorrectly. Addiction can't be cured, just like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, which are all long-term illnesses. But there are ways to help.

Not All of Us Agree

The medical community has different ideas about this subject. A lot of people think that addiction is a brain disease. This is because of how drugs affect a person's brain and its plasticity or ability to change in structure or function over time due to what it goes through. 

This is another way of saying that the brain can change how it works. Drugs make the brain less flexible and change how it learns new habits. Critics of this theory say that claiming addiction is an illness of the brain gives the impression that a person's thoughts and actions are not in their control but are instead controlled by the chemicals in their brain. 

This is especially bad for people trying to get over addiction because it could be a way to avoid taking responsibility for their actions and deny their problems. Opponents also say that treating addiction as a disease of the brain ignores the fact that numerous individuals use drugs to deal with problems. This means that a root cause needs to be treated, which is a very important part of making treatments for each person.

Does That Mean Someone Can Die From Addiction?

No. Unlike people with diabetes or lung disease, who are likely to die from their diseases, people with addiction do not have to die from their addiction.

70% of alcoholics who stay in treatment for at least a year stay sober for the rest of their lives. When it comes to drugs, it's within 50 and 60%. These numbers are significantly higher than those for other diseases that need treatment for life. Still, people think treatment for 28 days or every few days will work. Not at all.

Other long-lasting diseases get worse quickly. When a patient gets sick again, doctors give them more treatment. If someone tries to get clean slips up again, they "blew it." People think that the addict doesn't have enough willpower or morals.

Getting help for addiction works...if the person keeps going to therapy. If the diabetic stops taking their medicine, they may get sick again and die. The same is true for addiction.

A Closer Look

But let's look more closely at that idea. How is it possible to miss the fact that other problems cause addiction and also is curable? If mental illnesses can't be cured, how can trauma or mental illness that causes addiction be cured? People who use drugs to deal with psychological problems or trauma may keep using them repeatedly if those problems aren't dealt with.

This is important because many people who disagree that addiction is a disease think people can get better without clinical help. So, how can addiction be cured if addiction occurs with psychological problems that aren't being treated or talked about? Another reason why there is no cure for addiction is that drugs make the brain less flexible, which is true. 

Researchers have found a link between prolonged use of drugs and the ability of synapses to slow down when stimulated in certain ways. It is a big part of learning new things and acting in different ways. In this process, dopamine is very important. It is a neurotransmitter, which means that it connects nerve or muscle fibres to synapses.

When people take drugs, their brains make more dopamine than they could get from healthy things like eating or doing things that make them happy. After using drugs for a long time, the brain gets used to looking for those stimuli. So, using drugs turns into a learned behaviour. It takes a lot of therapy to get the brain to stop thinking and acting in unhealthy ways. In this way, drug use directly changes how the brain works.

Once an Addict, Always an Addict: True, but Not Entirely

Anyone who has struggled with addiction or cared about someone who did has probably heard the question, "Why doesn't that person just have a little self-control and stop?" Many false ideas about addiction exist, and numerous individuals still don't understand how it works. People often make hasty decisions and false assumptions about addiction when upset. For example, some people think that if someone was "once an addict," they will "always be an addict."

People who successfully make it through the initial stages of sobriety are likelier to start using again. This is because one slip-up can lead to a complete relapse. After two years of recovery, the chance of going back to using drops by a lot. But that doesn't mean the person in recovery is better. If you have an addiction, you can fall back into it.

Addiction is an illness that makes people feel forced to do things. Hopefully, the person in recovery will have a strong, honest network of support and good skills for dealing with these urges as they come up. With the right help, commitment, and circumstances, it is possible to stay free from addiction. If a good plan and support system are in place, relapses can be caught early and kept to a minimum.

Assessing Addiction

But people who disagree with this idea say that drugs don't change their minds in a way that can't be fixed. They think that someone can make healthy changes to their lifestyle without the help of a professional. This may be true sometimes, but it's not a theory that applies to all drug users. Remember that we're not talking about occasional drug use but about a full addiction.

Also, telling people they can stop using drugs without professional help is very negligent because some drugs, like alcohol or benzodiazepines, can cause withdrawal symptoms that can kill. Not getting help from a professional is not an option for these people. When considering whether addiction can be cured, there are numerous things to consider. One thing that needs to be done is to figure out how addicted someone is to a drug and even what drug they are using. Some drugs are more likely to make you addicted than others. 

Addiction and recovery are also affected by a person's genes. For example, if you grow up in the right place, you can learn to be an alcoholic. If a kid grows up in an environment with an adult who drinks and doesn't see that they have a problem, the child learns to accept heavy drinking. This is scary because it's a trait that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Now That We Know Addiction Can't Be Cured, What About Treatment?

Given that addiction is a complicated illness, so is the way to treat it. But treatment is not a cure. Instead, treatment gives a person a chance to start getting better. Recovery is a process that lasts for the rest of your life. During this time, you give up alcohol, drugs, or other addictions and start living a healthy life again.

• Contingency Management (CM): This type of therapy tries to directly reinforce the behaviours patients want by having them do things like pass drug tests and go to therapy. As rewards, money and prizes are given.
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): People with trouble controlling their stress and emotions are often addicted. DBT teaches people how to deal with feelings and stress better and make better decisions.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI): This method helps the person in rehabilitation build their motivation and desire for health. The therapist works with the client to discover why and what drives them to change.
• Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT): This set of therapies works with the patient's loved ones, not the patient directly so that the loved ones can help the patient.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, is a type of therapy that looks for links between ideas, emotions, convictions, and actions. It helps people determine what makes them want to use and teaches them how to deal with bad thoughts and actions.

Conclusion

Addiction is a complicated sickness that lasts a lifetime, and there is no one quick fix. People can deal with their addictions and get on the road to recovery with the help of treatment choices. But there is no cure for addiction, and treatment doesn't make the benefits last forever. Addiction is a sickness that lasts a person's whole life. Even if they learn how to deal with it and stay drug-free for a while, they may start using again. People who are trying to stop using drugs should not try any other drugs besides the one they got help for.

Some doctors say that addiction is a brain disease because of how drugs change a person's brain and its ability to change shape. Critics say that addressing addiction as a disease of the brain ignores the fact that many people use drugs to deal with problems, which is important to know when coming up with treatments for each person.

Addicts do not have to die because of their drugs. 70% of alcoholics who stay in treatment for at least a year stay clean for the rest of their lives, while between 50% and 60% of drug users stay sober for the rest of their lives. But people often think that treatment for 28 days or every few days will work because diseases that have been around for a long time can get worse fast.

Addiction can be treated if the person keeps going to therapy. If a diabetic stops taking their medicine, they could get sick again and die. The same can be said about addiction.

Addiction is a complicated illness that can be treated in many ways, such as with Contingency Management (CM), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Even though many people think that addiction is a sickness, they still think that people can get better without professional help. Drugs make the brain less flexible, and long-term use of drugs can cause synapses to slow down when triggered in certain ways. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is a key part of this process, and drug use directly changes how the brain works.

There are some false beliefs about addiction, like the idea that a person who uses drugs once will always use drugs. Getting over an addiction takes a strong network of support and a strong support system. But it's important to think about things like how bad the problem is, the drug used, and your genes.

Addiction recovery is a long process that requires giving up booze, drugs, or other addictions and living a healthy life again. This can only be done with training. Options for treatment include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). By understanding the root causes of addiction and using effective treatment methods, people can work towards a healthier and more enjoyable life.

Content Summary

• Addiction is complicated and affects each individual differently.
• There's no single quick fix for addiction; various treatment options are available.
• No magic pill or specific therapy can completely eliminate addictive tendencies.
• Like mental disorders, addiction lasts for a person's whole life, with the risk of relapse always present.
• Those with substance abuse histories should avoid trying drugs other than the ones they were treated for.
• The article discusses how therapy can aid in stopping drug use, allowing a fuller life without them.
• People often misuse the terms "cured" and "treated" when referring to addiction.
• A cure means to eradicate an illness, while to treat means to attempt to heal or cure.
• Addiction is a lifelong disease that can be treated, but not cured, and its effects are not permanent.
• In recovery, the signs of addiction lessen, but relapse can occur, causing symptoms to return.
• Some people in recovery claim they are "cured," but addiction is similar to chronic diseases like asthma and cannot be cured.
• The medical community has diverse views on addiction, with some considering it a brain disease.
• Critics argue that labeling addiction as a brain disease may absolve personal responsibility.
• Some believe that treating addiction as a brain disease ignores the root cause of drug use.
• Unlike diabetes or lung disease, addiction does not have to be fatal.
• Treatment success rates for addiction are notably high when compared to other chronic diseases.
• Treatment must be continuous, as short-term treatment is ineffective.
• If an addict slips up, society often blames lack of willpower or morals.
• Continuous therapy is vital for addiction treatment, comparable to medicine for diabetes.
• Addressing underlying mental health or trauma issues is vital for treating addiction.
• The belief that addiction can be cured without clinical help is disputed.
• Prolonged drug use affects brain flexibility and learning, impacting the ability to change unhealthy behaviors.
• Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, plays a significant role in addiction, connecting to learned behaviors.
• The myth that "once an addict, always an addict" exists, but it's not entirely true.
• Initial sobriety stages are vulnerable to relapse, but after two years, the chances reduce.
• A strong support network and coping skills are vital to prevent relapse in recovery.
• Some people believe that addiction is not irreversible and can be overcome without professional help.
• Attempting to quit drugs without professional help can be dangerous due to potential withdrawal symptoms.
• Assessing the level of addiction and the specific drug is crucial in determining treatment.
• Genetics and environment can affect addiction and recovery, even passing down traits between generations.
• Addiction treatment is complex, focusing on recovery rather than cure.
• Contingency Management (CM) therapy rewards desired behaviors like passing drug tests.
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) helps with emotional and stress control, often aiding those with addiction.
• Motivational Interviewing (MI) builds motivation and desire for health through collaborative exploration.
• Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) involves loved ones to assist the patient.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) explores connections between thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions.
• 70% of alcoholics who stay in treatment for a year remain sober for life, and drug addiction recovery rates are between 50 and 60%.
• Addiction treatment is a lifelong process, focusing on giving up substances and living healthily.
• A significant part of treatment involves learning to deal with underlying psychological problems or trauma.
• Treatment for addiction is more than merely stopping drug use; it involves changing how the brain functions.
• Understanding addiction requires discarding false assumptions and misconceptions.
• Early detection and a robust support system can minimize relapses.
• People often mistake addiction for a lack of self-control, ignoring the complex nature of the disease.
• Addiction cannot be cured, reflecting chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
• Assessing addiction requires careful consideration of numerous factors, including the type of drug and individual predisposition.
• Addiction has genetic components, and environmental influences can perpetuate the problem.
• Therapy options vary widely, targeting different aspects of addiction and support needs.
• Misunderstanding addiction can lead to harmful judgments and inadequate treatment approaches.
• Critics of the brain disease theory argue that it could hinder individuals from taking responsibility for their addiction.
• Ongoing therapy is essential in addiction treatment, analogous to ongoing medication for chronic illnesses.